Drawing's resurgence during lockdown signals a shift in art's hierarchy

During the COVID-19 lockdown, drawing experienced a notable resurgence as artists confined to home returned to paper and pencil. Initiatives like Ugo La Pietra and Corrado Levi's diaries (published by Corraini) and The Colouring Book by Milano Art Guide gained traction. The article argues that drawing, often undervalued as secondary to finished works, deserves serious critical analysis as a mode of 'interrogating the visible.' Citing John Berger, it suggests each drawing contains a poetic declaration. The author calls for dedicated study of drawing's expressive and conceptual potential, echoing Lucio Del Pezzo's view that simplicity of means privileges content. The piece, published on Artribune Magazine #57, reflects on whether this trend will lead to renewed interest from artists, audiences, and the market in more honest, direct aesthetic forms.